Turkish Courts Convict 7 Over Feto Links

At least seven people were convicted by Turkish courts Tuesday for being members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year's defeated coup attempt, according to a security source.



Aysenur Parildak, a correspondent of the FETO-linked Zaman newspaper, appeared before a court in Ankara.



The 14th High Criminal Court sentenced her to seven years and six months in prison for being a member of an armed terrorist organization.



The High Criminal Court in the northern province of Kastamonu sentenced a former police officer to six years and three months for membership in an armed terrorist organization and using ByLock, FETO's encrypted smartphone messaging application.



In eastern Agri province, the 2nd High Criminal Court sentenced a former teacher to 10 years and six months for using ByLock and membership in an armed terrorist group.



The 2nd High Criminal Court sentenced another person to six years and 10 months for using ByLock.



In central Eskisehir province, another person was sentenced to 12 years by the 2nd High Criminal Court over charges of using ByLock.



An ex-police chief was convicted in eastern Malatya province.



The 2nd High Criminal Court sentenced him to six years and three months for being a member of a terrorist organization and using ByLock.



FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016 which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.



Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary. -